Electrical contact strip having supporting portions for protecting contacts thereof

Abstract

An electrical contact strip comprises a carrier and a plurality of contacts projecting from and linking with the carrier. A plurality holes are defined on the carrier for securing the carrier. A plurality of supporting portions and protrude beyond the contact in a thickness direction for protecting the contacts.

1 . An electrical contact strip comprising:
 a carrier;   a plurality of contacts projecting forwardly from of the contact strip;   a plurality holes defined on the carrier for aligning and advancing the carrier; and   a plurality of supporting portions formed from the formation of the holes, each projecting forwardly from an inner edge of the hole to an extent that is beyond an outmost point of the contact terminal.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the supporting portion is perpendicular to the carrier. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the supporting portion has a similar configuration with the hole. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hole includes an dowel hole for securing the carrier and a receiving hole linking with the supporting portion. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the supporting portion comprises a curved portion bent from the receiving hole and a supporting section extending from the curved portion and perpendicular to the carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the contact is configured with a main body with a spring arm extending upwardly and a soldering portion extending perpendicularly to the main body. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the main body includes a first main body connecting with the carrier and a second main body extending from a lateral side of the first main body and connecting with the spring arm. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second main body, the spring arm, and the soldering portion are all disposed in front of the carrier. 
     
     
         9 . An electrical contact strip comprising:
 a carrier defining a datum plane itself;   a plurality of contacts having a first length protruding from the datum plane in a thickness direction of the contact strip;   a plurality of holes defined in the carrier; and   a plurality of supporting portions, each extending from corresponding holes and having a second length protruding from the datum plane in the thickness direction of the carrier, and the second length being longer than the first length.   
     
     
         10 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the holes are defined along the carrier's extending direction. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the supporting portions are disposed perpendicular to the datum plane. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each hole comprises a dowel hole for securing the contact strip and a receiving hole communicating with the dowel hole. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the supporting portion is configured with a curved portion and a supporting section connecting with the curved portion. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the hole has a similar configuration with the supporting portion. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical contact strip as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the contact comprises a first main body located in the datum plane, a second main body connecting with the first main body and extending outwardly, a spring arm extending upwardly from the second main body and a soldering portion extending downwardly and perpendicularly to the second main body. 
     
     
         16 . An electrical contact strip comprising:
 a carrier having a main face defining a datum plane thereof;   a plurality of contacts unitarily stamped and extending from the carrier and having a distal end spaced from the datum plane with a first distance;   a plurality of supporting portions, respectively opposite to the corresponding contacts, stamped and extending from the carrier and having a distal tip spaced from the datum plane with a second distance larger than the first distance; wherein   said supporting portion is not a part of the corresponding contact for use but of waste material after removal of the contact from the carrier.